On the Stages of Cultivation

"A Qing, do you know what it takes to become a good medical practitioner?"

Hearing his master's question, Lu Qing hesitated for a moment before answering, "Excellent medical skills?"

"That is only one part of it," Old Doctor Chen said. "Beyond that, an outstanding medical practitioner must also possess a calm mind that remains unruffled in the face of change, as well as a healthy physique."

"A mind that remains unruffled, and a healthy physique?" Lu Qing murmured.

"Exactly." The old doctor nodded. "As a medical practitioner, it is very important to remain unruffled in the face of change."

"Because medical practitioners will inevitably encounter all manner of patients in the future."

"Some will be writhing in unbearable pain, their mouths full of wails. Some will be barely clinging to life, on the verge of death. Some will suffer from terrifying illnesses that make one's flesh crawl. There will even be those with violent tempers, ready to curse, brawl, and strike at the slightest provocation."

"When faced with such patients, if you do not have a composed, calm mind that remains unruffled in the face of change, it will be difficult for you to accurately diagnose their condition and treat them to save their lives."

"So remember this: when your medical skills have matured, no matter what sort of patient you encounter, you must maintain an unruffled state of mind. Only then can you better help save your patients."

"This disciple will remember." Lu Qing answered respectfully.

"As for a healthy physique..."

The old doctor pondered for a moment before continuing.

"Just as I said earlier, medical practitioners will always encounter certain troublesome patients."

"Some patients not only have irascible tempers themselves, but their family members are equally unreasonable. At times, the slightest dissatisfaction will make them fly into a rage, and they may even vent their anger on the medical practitioner."

"At such times, a medical practitioner should no longer be thinking of treating illnesses and saving lives. Preserving oneself should come first."

"In that case, a healthy physique becomes quite necessary. Otherwise, I fear you will be unable to deal with those unreasonable patients and their families."

As the old doctor said this, an indescribable expression appeared on his face, as though he had recalled some unpleasant memory.

It seemed his master had encountered quite a few people who caused trouble at medical clinics before, Lu Qing thought.

The old doctor shook his head, casting away those unpleasant memories, then continued.

"Besides dealing with troublesome patients, medical practitioners often enter the mountains to gather herbs and travel far and wide. All of these require a good body before they can be done."

"Therefore, if you wish to become an outstanding medical practitioner, medical skills are certainly important."

"But likewise, a mind that remains unruffled in the face of change and a strong physique are just as important."

"Then, Master, how can one train a strong physique?" Lu Qing asked humbly.

"Now that is the right question." Old Doctor Chen smiled.

"Do you remember the set of boxing techniques I performed when you first came here?"

"I remember."

How could I merely remember? I almost simulated it.

This was the first time his master had taken the initiative to mention cultivation. His heart could not help but stir with excitement.

"This set of boxing techniques was something I obtained by chance in my youth. It is precisely because of it that, at my age, I still have a fairly healthy body."

"Now that you have entered my sect, it is time to teach you this set of boxing techniques as well."

"Master is going to teach me martial arts?" Lu Qing's face filled with delight. "So Master knows martial arts too?"

"I only know a little. Your body is somewhat frail. Whether you wish to enter the mountains to gather herbs or travel far and wide in the future, you must exercise more. As medical practitioners, we must not only know how to treat illnesses and save lives, but also know how to regulate ourselves and strengthen our bodies."

"If even you yourself are sickly and weak, how could you possibly be in good condition to diagnose illnesses and treat people?"

Old Doctor Chen knew that someone as quick-witted as Lu Qing could never give up on seeking the truth behind his parents' deaths.

Nor did he have any reason to stop his disciple.

After all, as a son, wanting to know the truth about the deaths of one's birth parents was only right and proper.

Since that was the case, all he could do was give his disciple a little more ability to protect himself.

After returning to the courtyard, master and disciple stood in its center. Xiao Yan sat at a stone table nearby, happily eating pastries as she watched them.

"A Qing, before I formally teach you boxing techniques, I must first explain some common knowledge regarding Martial Dao cultivation." Old Doctor Chen's expression turned solemn.

"Yes, Master."

Lu Qing forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart.

At last, I can learn something about cultivation! "Martial Dao cultivation, as Martial Dao Practitioners call it, is divided into several realms." Old Doctor Chen began to explain at length.

"The major realms are divided into the Innate and the Acquired."

"As for the minor realms, the Acquired Realm alone is further divided into three: the Qi Blood Realm, the Tendons and Bones Realm, and the Inner Organs Realm."

"In the Qi Blood Realm, those who have only just begun practicing martial arts mainly invigorate their qi and blood and regulate their breath."

"When the qi and blood are lively and the breath flows smoothly, the body naturally grows stronger, strength increases, and one's spirit becomes vigorous."

"Thus, martial artists who have reached great mastery in the Qi Blood Realm are all robust and powerful, with astonishing strength. Even if three or five burly men seize hold of them, they can easily fling them away."

"In the Tendons and Bones Realm, martial artists have already begun consciously tempering their own tendons and bones."

"They use all manner of secret methods and mental cultivation techniques to temper their tendons and bones, stretching the sinews, pulling the bones, and remolding the body from its very marrow."

"Martial artists who have reached great mastery in the Tendons and Bones Realm are many times stronger than those in the Qi Blood Realm. They can pull back a galloping horse and throw an ox with their bare hands—truly a terrifying sight."

"As for the Inner Organs Realm..."

The old doctor paused before continuing, "The qi, blood, tendons, and bones of martial artists at this realm have already become powerful to their very limit, making further breakthroughs difficult. Thus, they begin seeking an even greater transformation of the body from the outside inward."

"And that transformation lies within the internal organs."

"The Five Viscera and Six Bowels of the human body have always been fragile. The slightest injury may endanger one's life."

"But martial artists in the Inner Organs Realm can cultivate their Five Viscera and Six Bowels until they become extraordinarily powerful. Their inner and outer selves become one, their breath deep and unending, their endurance immensely strong."

"Martial artists who have reached great mastery in the Inner Organs Realm possess powerful Inner Breath. They can travel a thousand li in a long-distance charge and still retain their strength, or remain underwater for several hours without their breath cutting off."

"Once one's martial arts have reached this realm, they have far surpassed ordinary imagination and arrived at the limits of the human Acquired Realm."

"Those capable of reaching such a realm are truly one in ten thousand, worthy of being called Dragons Among Men. Thus, Martial Dao Practitioners bestow the title of Grandmaster upon martial artists who have mastered the Inner Organs Realm."

This explanation left Lu Qing both exhilarated and shaken.

The cultivators of this world were even more powerful than he had imagined.

Pulling back galloping horses, throwing oxen barehanded, traveling a thousand li in long-distance charges...

Such feats could only be described as inhuman.

No wonder he had felt such overwhelming pressure from Master Ma before.

So Master Ma possessed such formidable strength.

"Master, the Acquired Realm is already this powerful. Then what about the Innate Realm?" Lu Qing asked impatiently.

"Even I do not know the might of the Innate Realm." The old doctor shook his head. "Experts of that realm are like divine dragons that show their heads but never their tails. Some roam freely beneath the heavens, while others are supreme figures who guard an entire nation. Ordinary martial artists find it difficult even to come into contact with them."

Lu Qing's eyes shifted as he asked again, "Then what realm is Master in now?"

"Hahaha!" The old doctor laughed heartily. "Your master is already old. When a person grows old and frail, what use is any realm? Besides, I am only a doctor. I concern myself only with treating illnesses and saving lives, not with competing in strength or victory. Whether one's realm is high or low is of no importance."

Fine, Lu Qing understood. The old man simply did not wish to reveal his cultivation.

"However, although your master cannot fight, I can still teach you some methods for strengthening your body."

"You must study this set of boxing techniques I am about to teach you well."